We Were Soldiers (2002)

May 29, 2007 by Mr. Nau Mel Gibson leads a talented cast in a based-on-a-true-story picture depicting the Battle of Ia Drang, the first major battle between the US Army Air Cavalry and the North Vietnamese Army. With very realistic action and decent acting performances, this is a exciting, satisfying war drama. Grade: A. IMDB: […]

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

May 28, 2007 by Mr. Nau Tom Hanks stars in this superlative World War II epic, directed by Steven Spielberg. This picture features some of the most astonishing World War II battle sequences ever filmed. The gritty realism and powerful acting performances of this stunning virtuosic achievement set a very high standard for subsequent war […]

North Country (2005)

May 28, 2007 by Mr. Nau Niki Caro directs this emotional, infuriating story of the harrassment endured by women in an iron mine in Northern Minnesota. Charlize Theron leads a talented cast that brings the drama to the screen with a remarkable sensitivity, showing the experiences of people who never deserved the horrifying cruelty they […]

A History of Violence (2005)

May 27, 2007 by Mr. Nau Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, and William Hurt star in this story of a small town diner owner who once had a secret life as a mob hitman. The acting performances were clunky and much of the violence seemed gratuitous. Squandered heroic sympathy and miscast characters blow this […]

Hustle & Flow (2005)

May 26, 2007 by Mr. Nau Terence Howard stars in an Oscar-nominated performance as a small-time pimp in North Memphis who gets an old high school buddy to help him out with a rap demo. With a talented cast, real characters, and a gritty story, this picture never glorifies the underworld characters it depicts. Grade: […]

Dancer in the Dark (2000)

May 26, 2007 by Mr. Nau Björk stars as a poor Eastern European immigrant in this avant-garde musical shot with handheld cameras and without incidental music. Some of the plot themes are sentimental and seem manipulative. Clearly influenced by old musicals and grainy cinema verité, this film features musical numbers that are strictly for Björk’s […]

The Man Without a Past (2002)

May 22, 2007 by Mr. Nau This Oscar-nominated Finnish film shows the story of an amnesia-afflicted man living in a homeless encampment in Helsinki. The pacing of the story is quite slow, the atmosphere quiet and reflective, and the dialog minimal yet humorous. Solid acting performances make this an enjoyable excursion into something different. Grade: […]

Junebug (2005)

May 20, 2007 by Mr. Nau Embeth Davidtz stars in this very slow-paced and sometimes hard-to-watch yet quaint story of an art gallery owner meeting a prospective artist and her new husband’s rural North Carolina family. Amy Adams shines in an Oscar-winning supporting role as a very enthusiastic pregnant sister-in-law. Grade: B. IMDB: Junebug. 0.3

The Constant Gardener (2005)

May 16, 2007 by Mr. Nau Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz star in this Oscar-winning thriller about a man digging into the conspiracy behind the murder of his activist wife in Kenya. The story is very intelligently written and the acting is magnificent. This picture is a real nailbiter, full of intrigue and unexpected plot […]

The Mighty (1998)

May 15, 2007 by Mr. Nau Big, quiet Max is an outcast among his classmates. A physically-challenged intellect, Kevin the Freak, moves in next door. The two outsiders become fast friends in this unexpectedly good buddy picture. The script is wonderful, the tension palpable, the acting first-rate, and the story full of exciting adventure. Grade: […]

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